Sealed padlock



- E. (I. WASHBURN.

SEALED PADLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1920.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

entree smi es PATENT QFFHCE.

EDWIN C. WASHBURN, 0F ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

SEALED PADLOCK.

i severe.

Application filed June 18,

To all iii/"r0122, it may concern Be it known that I, Ennis C. Mei-moan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Englewood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sealed Padlocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates, particularly, to the sealing of railway cars and provides a lock, preferably, in the form of a padlock having a breakable seal which, when applied and mtact, prevents operation of the padlock, and consequently, opening of the car without first breaking the seal, and thus gives indication that the lock has been tampered with.

The invention, in its preferred form and as applied to a padlock, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like char acters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the padlock before the breakable seal has been applied thereto while the shackle of the lock is still open;

Fig. 2 shows the shackle of the lock closed and the breakable seal applied, so as to prevent operation of the lock;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing one of the breakable seals; and

Fig. l: is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but showing the seal broken into two sections.

The padlock may be of any approved construction adapted to be key-operated in the customary way by having certain features incorporated therewith, in accordance with my invention. The case 5 of this padlock has the customary keyhole 6, but this key hole is adapted to be covered by a cover plate 7 pivotally connected to the case at 8 and provided with a stop surface 9 that will be engaged with the notched stop lug 10 on the case, when turned into position to cover the keyhole 7, as shown in Fig. 2. When in this position shown in Fig. 2, the upper edge of the cover plate 7 will be a horizontal line, providing the padlock hangs in a vertical position, as shown in the drawings and it will be stopped in this position and held positively against further downward movement by the engagement of the lower edge Specification of Letters Patent.

1920. Serial No. 389,998.

9 with the stop lug or shoulder 10. It then completely covers the keyhole 6. On the face of the cover 7 is an outstanding lug or flange 11. hen the cover plate is turned downward as just stated, it is materially below a horizontal line that intersects the axis of the pivot 8.

Rigidly cast or otherwise rigidly secured on the face of the case 5 is a pair of laterally spaced vertical retaining lugs or flanges 12 grooved or undercut on their inner opposing faces at 13, so to receive the end edges of the breakable seal 14. This seal 14- is preferably of brittle material, such as baked clay, and to make breaking thereof, at its center and on a well defined line an easy matter, it formed in its back with a V-shaged groove 15. Near its ends, the seal is also shown as formed with perforations 16 that adapt the two broken sections to be connected by a wire, or the like, if the broken seals are to be kept for record. The car number and certain other data may be impressed or otherwise printed on the face of the seal 14, or, if desired, the seal may be made to take a signature of the sender or agent or other person. The friable non-metallic seal made from baked clay or the like is slightly porous and is a somewhat absorbent material, which quality makes it difficult or impossible to change signatures, or marks written or printed, for example on the seal by the use of ink. V

The lock is provided with a shackle 18 which is pivoted thereto in the customary way and has the customary notched end 19 adapting it to be secured by key-actuated lock mechanism in the customary way; but as a novel feature, this shackle is provided with an offset foot or shoulder 20 which, when the seal is in position and the shackle is locked, as shown in Fig. 2, engages the upper edge of the seal and positively prevents removal of the seal without first breaking the seal. Obviously, when the seal is held as shown in Fig. 2, it holds the cover plate 8 over the keyhole 7, so that the lock cannot be key-operated, and as a highly important feature, the seal, as already indicated, is made to cover and protect the rivet or pivot 8 so that it cannot be driven in or the keyhole cover plate removed without first breaking the seal. Moreover, the upper portion of the cover late is back of the seal so that it will be impossible to force the cover plate laterally away from the lug or to bend the same so as to afford access to the keyhole. Gt course, when the seal is cracked or broken, as shown in Fig. 4;, it will fall out of the retaining flanges 12 and then the cover plate 8 can be turned up into the position shown in Fig. l. and thereby atford access to the lock mechanism with the key insertible through the keyhole 7.

hen the seal is applied, the keyhole will not only be indirectly covered by the se 1, but what is more important, the keyhole will be directly covered by the unbreakable keyhole cover plate. Even when the seal is not applied, the cove plate will he gravity held in position to close the keyhole and thus to prevent rain, dust, snow or the like from getting into the 101k.

For a seal lock of the above character, a key is required to operate the look and this key can he carried by the conductor or held by the agent or other person authorized to open a car. Even breaking of the seal does not make it possible to open a car unless one is possessed with a proper key. But even one in possession of the key cannot open the lock without first breaking the seal; and these seals will not be where they can get into the possession of persons unauthorized to open a car. To open a car and then again close the same without detection requires, first, possession of thekey, and second possession of a seal to replace the broken seal.

The padlock employed is a type which automatically locks its hasp when the shackle is forced to a crossed position. This sealed lock is, therefore, very highly etficient for the purposes had in view.

What 1 claim is:

l. A look having a keyhole, a movable keyhole cover plate, a seal made of friable nonanetallic material and which, when ap plied to said lock, holds said cover plate over said keyhole, and said lock having a movable element which, when the lock is locked, holds said seal in position so that it can be removed only when broken.

2. A padlock having a keyhole, a pivoted eyhole cover plate, laterally spaced groovedretaining lugs on the exterior oil the lock case, a breakable seal which when in position, is held by said retaining lugs in position to hold. said cover plate over said keyhole, said padlock iaving a shackle with aprojecting shoulder, which, when the shackle is locked, positively holds said seal in working position so that it can be removed only. after it has been broken.

3. A lock having a keyhole in its case, a keyhole cover plate pivoted to the lock case, which, when applied to the lock holds said cover plate over said keyhole and itself covers the pivot thereof, said lock having a movable lock element. which, when locked holds said seal in position so that it can be removed only when broken.

A look having a keyhole in its case, a keyhole cover plate pivoted to the lock case, which, when applied to the lock holds said cover plate over said keyhole and itself covers the pivot thereof, said lock having a movable lock element, which, when locked holds said seal in position so that it can be removed only when broken, said seal being held slightly away from the face of the lock and said upper portion of said cover plate being extended between said seal and the adjacent face of said lock case.

5. A lock provided with a cover plate for protecting its unlocking mechanism, and a friable seal holding said cover plate in position, and itself held in position by a closed lock.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

EDlVIN C. l VASHBURN. 

